Portsmouth were left hanging on a relegation precipice after a second-half collapse to a stylish Crewe side.

Crewe had the best of the chances in a scrappy first half and should have had a penalty after 22 minutes.

Robbie Pethick appeared to tug Colin Little's shirt after the winger had been put through on goal by Steve Garvey.

Little wasted the best chance of the half on 38 minutes, firing Kenny Lunt's pass over the bar from 12 yards.

Portsmouth demonstrated the kind of form that has rooted them firmly at the bottom of the First Division in the second half and Crewe took full advantage of defensive errors to cruise to an easy victory.

Little gave the Railwaymen the lead after 48 minutes. Pompey's Greek international Michalis Vlachoh tried to shepherd the ball out of play but the defender was robbed by Little, who skipped round keeper Alan Knight to fire Crewe into the lead.

Ten minutes later Garvey made it two.

Marcus Bignott's shot was spilled by Knight into Garvey's path and the winger made no mistake with his finish.

Pompey sent on top scorer John Aloisi in an attempt to force something out of the game and within minutes the Australian international had nearly pulled a goal back, his left-foot shot narrowly missing the far post.

But Crewe refused to take their foot off again and went three ahead on 72 minutes.

Little slipped the ball to teenager Lunt and the youngster's half-hit shot evaded Knight's despairing dive.

Crewe could have gone five up in the second half - two valid penalty appeals were turned down by the referee.

Pompey did manage to grab a late consolation goal. From Jimmy Carter's corner Alan McLoughlin flicked the ball on and Aloisi was on hand to tuck the ball home.

Crewe fans applauded their team off the pitch as the Alex moved further up the table towards the safety zone.

Meanwhile Pompey were left staring relegation in the face. They will need to make dramatic improvement if they are to avoid the drop to Division Two.

Teams

Crewe: Kearton, Bignott (Street 72), S. Smith, Unsworth, Walton, Lunt, Garvey, Whalley, Anthrobus, Johnson, Little.

Subs Not Used: Lightfoot, P. Smith.

Goals: Little 49, Garvey 58, Lunt 73.

Portsmouth: Knight, Pethick, Vlachoh, McLoughlin, Whitbread, Awford, Foster, Claridge, Durnin (Igoe 60), Svensson (Aloisi 60), Carter.

Subs Not Used: Perrett.

Booked: McLoughlin, Vlachoh, Awford, Svensson, Foster.

Goals: Aloisi 81.

Att: 5,114

Ref: R Pearson (Peterlee).